"Doctor M'Benga, how are the patients?" John said
"They are fine, John." Dorian said.
"Good to hear," John sounded relieved. "This is the worst day I have had since I joined Star FLeet." He shook his head in disappointment. "I doubt that we are going to see our family again. . . Including my daughter."
Dorian was leaned against the desk.
"I didn't catch your name." Dorian said.
"Leonard McCoy." John said.
"I don't know what to say about you using the name of Detective Paul Richard's doctor as an identity,John." Dorian said, as John looked up in the direction the man.
"Did Jim set you up for this?" John asked.
"It has been at least two hundred years," Dorian said. "I should have known that eyewitness, Sandra Bullok was your sister."
John looked at Dorian in shock.
"Dorian?" John's mouth fell slack.
"It's Geoffrey M'Benga," Dorian said. "Now." He leaned away from the desk. "John Kennex died when you arrived on Earth again. You two looked alike, you took the liberty to take his identity. Besides, Leonard McCoy and Geoffrey M'Benga were never married to each other. I think it's best we keep it that way."
Dorian left.
Dorian and John had came into the hospital side by side with one of them covered in bruises and the other appearing to have been recently repaired by Rudy. The hospital was not as tightly packed as it used to be years ago during the administration of lame duck Donald Trump. Hate crimes rose up in the aftermath. America had recovered financially wise and economy wise. coins had to replace the currency of money in the late 2020's after Donald's one term that caused devastating consequences. Devastating enough it required the transition to coin. Paper back and coins were collectors items. Though it was used for rural parts of the country. The pair used the elevator. The doors closed on the two.
"John, you still have a cracked rib." Dorian reminded John.
"I will get some rest when I see that Paul is okay." John said.
"Does it not hurt?" Dorian asked.
"Sure, it does," John said. "But not urgent. As long as I can walk."
"After this, I am making sure you are sitting down and you take some pain pills for it." Dorian said.
"Not like it hurts." John said.
"I am not willing to scan you to make my point."
"Besides, we may have a case in the next hour. My rib can wait." John said.
"You are my partner, John, you need to be capable of not hurling around in pain."
"Theoretically, if a immortal received a injury like this," John said. "The pain would be nothing compared to becoming immortal."
"Such as the movie Disaster made in 2005 regarding Space Navy's handling a problem on a Mars space station with a entertainingly female cast," Dorian said. "I am well familiar to that film. And it was an accurate portrayal of just how dangerous attempting to achieve immortality is and unethical it can be. I did enjoy the android characters."
"The scientists were half android." John said.
"It is the story that matters," Dorian said. "Jenny Death and her twin brother Samuel Death were twins who were just like a divorced couple." He shuddered. "I still can't believe they made incest relationship that blatant."
"I am glad it didn't get a sequel." John said. "Do you know bloody it would have gotten and how devoid of a plot it would have."
"The horror paranormal films did progressively start not becoming horror paranormal movies." Dorian said.
"Mother was a good film." John said.
"I agree, that was a unique horror paranormal film." Dorian said. "Should we watch it this Halloween or Hocus Pocus."
"The doll moving around the house was not even paranormal." John said. "No, how about we watch the Carrie Fisher Halloweentown trilogy?"
"Some days I wish that moving around the house doll movie never made." Dorian said. He looked over toward John. "That sounds perfect.
"There are days when being human disgusts me." John admitted. "But today is not that day."
Dorian smiled turning his head away as the doors opened.
"Good, then we are settled on Halloween." Dorian said.
"Actually, good ghouls go bump in the night would be a good way to start Halloween." John said.
"I have not heard of that movie." Dorian said.
"I will introduce you to everyone's childhood." John said. "After that, the goosebumps."
"Goosebumps?" Dorian asked.
"It's a series of novels by R.L Stine." John said. "And a series of movies. The movies started going downhill after R.L Stine passed away."
"When was that?" Dorian asked.
"Late 2030's." John said, as they came to a doorway.
Alongside the doorway was a man in a white coat filling out a flat screened object. He had grayed brown hair with bags under his eyes. He looked up to see the two men side by side. Dorian had taken the liberty during the ride to call and ask Paul Richard's room number under the ruse that they were family members. MX-43 was sitting alongside his partner in the room reading a old book with yellow pages. Our view returned to the outside of the room where we can see the three men mere feet away from each other. Doctor McCoy smiled, looking up in the direction of John. His eyes were shining at the men as he lowered the pad to his side.
"Doctor Leonard McCoy," McCoy said. "You must be the nearby family?"
"No-" Dorian started.
"Yes." John said.
"We are not-" Dorian began to say.
"Second cousin to the left from the nephew, once removed," John said. "This is my husband," He wrapped a hand around the waist of Dorian with ease. "Dorian Kennex."
"Y'all lucky that he survived those bullets," McCoy said. "I never seen anythin' like it in my career." He sighed. "Fortunately, we were able to stabilize him and remove his appendix." John nodded, noticing the ring on the pinkie finger. "Which I was surprised given that most men have them removed."
"He has been busy on the job." John said.
"Doctor McCoy, you need to admit yourself," Dorian said. "You are having a heart attack."
"Dorian," John nudged the man's shoulder. "What are you doing."
"Helping him." Dorian said. "You would make the worst doctor."
"The hell I would." John said, in agreement.
"I am sorry, what were you sayin'?" McCoy asked.
"We were-" John started.
"Discussing on how to-" Dorian added.
"Approach you with a Pubic Service Announcement-" John continued.
"Which is-" Dorian went further.
"Have you gone to a heart doctor?" John finished.
McCoy cleared his throat.
"Well, I am havin' one, am I?" McCoy said. "Been a lon' time since I had it.'
"Affirmative,Doctor." Dorian said.
"I have to make some calls." McCoy said, as he started to turn away.
"Do you have a DRN here?" Dorian asked.
"As a nurse. But he has been quite eerie lately." McCoy said.
"I have dispatched him to the nearest corridor to make sure you go." Dorian said.
"Oh, you're a synthetic." McCoy said.
"I prefer almost human." Dorian said.
"Thank you." McCoy said.
John took Dorian by the arm as the doctor started to walk away.
"He has to know what the perp fell into coming from you." John said. "Look at that, he's asleep."
"Not for long with you around." Dorian said, as the door slid to a close behind them.